Eleanor Finch
In 2019, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urged President Donald Trump to delay his State of the Union address, citing security concerns related to the partial government shutdown. Pelosi argued that the State of the Union is not a sacred date and is not constitutionally required. The Constitution states that the president should “from time to time give to Congress information on the State of the Union, and for much of the 19th century, presidents fulfilled this duty by issuing a written report rather than delivering a speech. Pelosi's request raised questions about the customs and processes related to the State of the Union address and the president's ability to deliver the address in a manner of their choosing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Circumstances | Partial government shutdown |
| Reason | Security concerns |
| Constitutional requirement | No |
| Historical precedent | Yes |
| Invitation | Required |
| Confirmation by joint resolution | Required |
| Suggested alternatives | Written report, speech from the Oval Office |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution does not require a formal speech
President Thomas Jefferson, for instance, set a precedent by sending a written report to Congress instead of making a personal appearance. He believed that the idea of a President addressing Congress was "monarchical". It was President Woodrow Wilson who, in 1913, resurrected the practice of delivering a formal speech to Congress.
In light of the government shutdown, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asked President Donald Trump to postpone his State of the Union address, initially scheduled for 29 January, until the government reopened. Pelosi suggested that Trump reschedule his address, deliver it from the Oval Office, or send it in written form to Capitol Hill. She cited security concerns due to the shutdown, which had left some executive branch departments "hamstrung". Pelosi's request was not unprecedented. President Ronald Reagan, for instance, delayed his 1986 State of the Union speech, which was scheduled on the same day as the Challenger disaster.
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The President can give information on the State of the Union in writing
In January 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged President Donald Trump to delay his State of the Union address to Congress, citing security concerns related to the partial government shutdown. Pelosi's request was based on the US Constitution, which states that the President can "from time to time give to Congress information on the State of the Union". This implies a duty for the President to report on the State of the Union but does not specify a requirement for a formal speech or presidential address.
Pelosi suggested that Trump could deliver his address at a later date, from the Oval Office, or in writing to Capitol Hill. This suggestion was in line with historical precedent, as several US presidents throughout the 19th century and, most recently, Thomas Jefferson, submitted their State of the Union addresses in writing. Jefferson, in particular, considered the idea of a President addressing Congress in person as "monarchical".
While the House Speaker's request sparked debate, it is important to note that the Constitution grants the President the flexibility to choose how to deliver information on the State of the Union. This includes the option to provide a written report, as Pelosi suggested, or to give a traditional speech, as long as an invitation is extended and a joint resolution is passed by the House and Senate.
In summary, Nancy Pelosi's decision to delay President Trump's State of the Union address was aligned with the US Constitution, which allows the President to provide information on the State of the Union in a manner of their choosing. The President can indeed give information on the State of the Union in writing, as was the practice for a significant portion of US history.
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The President must receive an invitation to address Congress
The United States Constitution states that the President "shall from time to time give to the Congress information on the State of the Union". This is the basis for the State of the Union address, a speech delivered by the President to a joint session of Congress, typically on an annual basis.
However, the Constitution does not specify the format in which the President must provide this information. It does not require a formal speech or a presidential address. In fact, many presidents throughout the 19th century issued their State of the Union address in the form of a letter. President Thomas Jefferson, for example, set a precedent by sending a written report to Congress instead of making a personal appearance, believing that the idea of a President addressing Congress was "monarchical".
The State of the Union address is typically delivered in person by the President in the House of Representatives chamber of the United States Capitol. For this to happen, the President must receive an invitation from Congress, and a joint resolution must be passed by both the House and the Senate. This process is usually considered a formality, but it can be taken more seriously during times of strain, such as a government shutdown.
In January 2019, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asked President Donald Trump to postpone his State of the Union address, scheduled for January 29, until the government reopened, citing security concerns due to the partial shutdown. Pelosi suggested that Trump could deliver his address from the Oval Office or submit it in writing to Congress. This request sparked debate about the constitutional requirements for the State of the Union address. While Pelosi argued that the date was not sacred and not constitutionally required, others pointed out that the President has the ability to inform Congress about the State of the Union in the manner he sees fit.
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The President can choose how to deliver the State of the Union
In January 2019, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urged President Donald Trump to delay his scheduled State of the Union address to Congress, citing security concerns related to the partial government shutdown. Pelosi referenced the Constitution, which states that the President should "from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union". Notably, the Constitution does not specify how this information should be conveyed.
Historically, the State of the Union address has been delivered in various formats. While most early presidents provided written reports, some, like George Washington and John Adams, gave in-person speeches. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson discontinued in-person addresses, deeming them too "monarchical". This precedent was followed until 1913 when Woodrow Wilson resumed the tradition of delivering the address in person, transforming it into a tool to advance his legislative agenda.
Since Franklin D. Roosevelt, the State of the Union address has typically been delivered annually in late January or early February before a joint session of Congress. However, there have been exceptions. For example, in 1944, Roosevelt provided a written message due to poor health, and in 1986, Ronald Reagan postponed his address following the Challenger space shuttle disaster.
The decision to delay or alter the format of the State of the Union address is not uncommon, and it is within the President's discretion to choose how to deliver it. While Pelosi suggested Trump could deliver his address at the White House or in writing, the final decision rests with the President.
Throughout her career, Pelosi has been a strong advocate for upholding the Constitution. She has supported efforts to remove Trump from office, citing violations of the Constitution, and has introduced legislation to facilitate this process. Pelosi's actions regarding the State of the Union address can be understood within the context of her commitment to constitutional principles and her concerns about security during the government shutdown.
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The Speaker of the House can request a delay
The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, can request a delay in the State of the Union address, as she did in January 2019. She asked President Donald Trump to postpone his address, scheduled for January 29, until the government reopened, citing security concerns due to the partial government shutdown. Pelosi's request was based on the Constitution, which states that the president should "from time to time give to Congress information on the State of the Union."
Pelosi argued that the State of the Union address was not a sacred date and that there was no constitutional requirement for the president to deliver a formal speech or address annually. She suggested that Trump could deliver his address from the Oval Office or submit it in writing to Congress, as had been the practice for much of the 19th century and by President Thomas Jefferson, who considered a presidential address to Congress "monarchical."
While the president has the ability to inform Congress about the State of the Union in the manner he sees fit, Pelosi's request highlighted the impact of the government shutdown on security arrangements for the event. The partial government shutdown affected executive branch departments, and Pelosi, as Speaker of the House, had the authority to make this request, which was also supported by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
The Speaker of the House's role in inviting the president to address Congress and the requirement for a joint resolution to be passed by the House and Senate add further context to Pelosi's request for a delay. The specific circumstances of the government shutdown and security concerns influenced her decision, demonstrating the dynamic nature of constitutional interpretations and applications.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution states that the president can "from time to time give to Congress information on the State of the Union". However, it does not specify the format or require an annual address.
Yes. In order for the president to deliver a speech to Congress, they must receive an invitation, and a joint resolution must be passed by both the House and the Senate.
Pelosi cited security concerns due to the partial government shutdown, which impacted over 800,000 federal employees.
Yes, Pelosi suggested that Trump reschedule his address, deliver it from the Oval Office, or send it in writing to Capitol Hill.
Yes, President Ronald Reagan delayed his 1986 State of the Union address, which was scheduled on the same day as the Challenger disaster.
